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Business segment data - Earnings before income taxes by segment (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Jun. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2018
Jun. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Investment and derivative contract gains/losses $ 6,362 $ 225 $ (1,653) $ 1,000
Earnings before income taxes 15,098 6,129 13,575 11,817
Operating Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 8,301 6,500 14,948 11,602
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 2,596 1,259 4,319 2,009
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Interest, Dividend and Other Investment Income [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,392 1,283 2,597 2,412
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | GEICO [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 673 119 1,350 294
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 297 (375) 39 (1,118)
Operating Businesses [Member] | Insurance Group [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group [Member] | Insurance Premiums Earned [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 234 232 333 421
Operating Businesses [Member] | BNSF [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 1,655 1,537 3,168 2,882
Operating Businesses [Member] | Berkshire Hathaway Energy [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 586 649 1,073 1,238
Operating Businesses [Member] | Manufacturing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 2,135 1,939 3,990 3,426
Operating Businesses [Member] | McLane Company [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 67 69 127 157
Operating Businesses [Member] | Service and Retailing Businesses [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 697 555 1,212 948
Operating Businesses [Member] | Finance and Financial Products Reportable Segment [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses 565 492 1,059 942
Segment Reconciling Items [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Investment and derivative contract gains/losses 6,362 225 (1,653) 1,000
Interest expense 320 (646) (17) (857)
Equity method investments 327 346 728 627
Corporate, Eliminations and Other [Member]        
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]        
Earnings before income taxes from operating businesses $ (212) $ (296) $ (431) $ (555)